BA hikes surcharge again
British Airways is to increase its fuel surcharge for the fifth time on long haul flights following the ecslating cost of oil.
Singapore Airlines has also raised its surcharge.
From Monday, BA will charge £30 per sector – £60 for a return trip – up from £24 per sector. Short haul flights will remain unchanged at £8 per sector, £16 on a return journey.
BA commercial director Martin George insisted the airline had no choice but to pass the rising cost of fuel onto customers after the price of oil hit $70 a barrel in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
“Our fuel costs remain a real burden,” he said. “Our fuel bill of around £1.6 billion is now our second largest costs after employee costs. The latest fuel surcharge is regrettable but we have little choice but to pass some of our extra costs onto our customers. It now costs 400% more than it did in December 2001 to fill a plane.”
He argued it was better to be upfront about the charges rather than hiding the costs by raising fares behind the scenes “like some other airlines do.”
BA first introduced fuel surcharges back in May 2004 when a £5 levy was introduced for short and long haul flights. In August it increased to £12 for a return flight, in October to £20, in March this year to £32 and June to £48.
Singapore meanwhile said it would increase its surcharge by $10 to $100 for a return flight.
Report by Steve Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026